More Israelis favor recognizing a Palestinian state than not, and a majority want Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a major peace initiative, a new poll shows.

Asked whether Israel should join in international recognition of a Palestinian state should the matter come to a U.N. vote in September, 48 percent of respondents said Israel should “recognize a Palestinian state, while keeping the settlement blocs,” according to a poll published April 29 by the Israel’s daily Yediot Achronot, while 41 percent “oppose this also at the price of directly confronting the U.N.”

Asked whether Netanyahu, who will address Congress in late May, should present a peace initiative of his own, 53 percent responded that he “should present a diplomatic initiative to end the conflict, which will include significant concessions,” while 42 percent said he should not.

The poll of 500 respondents had a margin of error of 4.5 percent. — jta